Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

So I put a support ticket in to AMD because they still don't have updated drivers for their 990fx chipset and Windows 8.1. Most everything works fine, but if I let my computer sleep, I lose my overclock settings. Obviously not a big deal because I simply don't let my computer sleep. But I had to share this response because quite frankly, it's pretty sad.

My Initial ticket: "I noticed that Windows 8.1 doesn't support the sleep feature properly for the 990FX chipset. Particularly if you overclock your CPU, if you put your computer to sleep, it will wake up at a certain frequency. In my case, I have my chip, the 8350, set to 4.5 ghz in the bios, but if I let my computer go to sleep, it will wake up at 4.1. This doesn't seem to matter what I set my clock speed to either. I did talk to Asus (Crosshair V Formula-Z) about this but they said all their drivers have to come from AMD. I didn't know if you had a driver in the works for 8.1 but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. I've had an overclock specialist named John at Asus confirm this on his end, but overall, it's not a big deal because as long as I don't let my computer go to sleep, it runs fine. Thanks for the help and I hope you have a great weekend."

First AMD Responce: "We apologize for the delay. Your e-mail was misplaced by our server and was only now reclaimed and sent to the Global Customer Care team. We are very sorry for the lack of response and extended wait time in dealing with your request.I understand that you have trouble in the FX-8350 wakes up in a lower speed than pre-set. If this is incorrect, please let me know as the information provided may change.There is not specific CPU driver of FX-8350 for Windows 8.1. Please note that the default clock for FX-8350 is 4.0GHz and the processor has a Turbo core technology to boost 4 cores out of the 8 to 4.1GHz. The Turbo technology will automatically change the frequency to 4.1GHz with 4 cores when it detects the system is idle. As such, this might be the reason you are getting 4.1 GHz after the wake up. AMD does not support any setting out of our stated specification including the setting to 4.5GHz. A workaround would be to disable to Turbo core technology in BIOS but if there is no such option available, you may proceed to use the processor at its default frequency.In order to update this service request, please respond, leaving the service request reference intact."

My Responce: "Sorry for a late reply on this, I've been sick. Yes, I definitely have the ability to disable turbo core. It's disabled. And this doesn't have anything to do with the CPU but the chipset. Windows 7 doesn't have this problem because there was chipset drivers made for that OS. Windows 8 also had the chipset drivers. What I want to know is, does AMD have any plans to make an updated Windows 8.1 chipset driver for the 990fx chipset they designed, or are they just cancelling the 990fx support for financial or other reasons? This is important because any customers using what is currently the AMD high end right now deserve to have something fully functional with the latest OS. I understand that AMD might not support overclocking, but if that was totally true, they wouldn't unlock the cores of their chips for enthusiasts so that they can make world overclocking records. They may not warranty overclocking, but they support it to the extent they design toward it. The simple fact is, a computer should be able to go to sleep and wake up with the same clock settings. Bios's today are designed to give control to the OS after boot, so without a driver, the OS doesn't know how to wake properly once it has control, hence the reason for asking about drivers, since none exist for 8.1.

I'm a very active member as well as a news hound for a hardware website and while I won't write articles about this, I would feel obligated to share that AMD not treating their customers well in regards to this matter as well as not showing the attention to detail that Intel shows. Finally, I went through support with several other people and we know this is a simple driver issue. I understand that making a new driver may not be simple, particularly with 8.1, but this can't be blamed on the CPU or the OS. I'm not upset as this isn't serious. I just like to let my computer auto-sleep after 30 minutes. I can't with an overclock and even at stock, the voltage regulation drops significantly lowering clock speeds below the 4.0 minimum the fx-8350 should be at.

If there is no intention of a driver being updated for the later AMD chipsets and Windows 8.1, I'd appreciate just knowing, and being told truthfully that this is the case. Even though I'd be slightly disappointed, I'd feel that was more honorable than trying to blame other issues. Please let me know if it's not too much trouble one way or another and have a great weekend."

AMD Final Reply: "Dear Joshua,

Thanks for your reply.Regretfully, we cannot comment on whether the Windows 8.1 chipest drivers for 990FX will be released in future, but we will report this to related team and please check the following site for most updated chipset drivers."

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Has this been reported by anyone else? This is the first time I have heard of an issue with 990fx and Win8.1. Since 8.1 has been available since late last year I find it very hard to believe that AMD does not have support for it. They work closely with Microsoft on all major releases. If they have not released a new driver specifically for 8.1 there is no need for it. It sounds more like a bios issue to me. Or your board battery is crap. lol This just doesn't seem right to me.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Yeah, I first brought the issue up to Asus who told me they have to get their drivers from AMD. So far I haven't been able to get anywhere on this. When I tried to install the driver for 8, I get an error message because it doesn't support 8.1.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Originally Posted by joshjaks

Yeah, I first brought the issue up to Asus who told me they have to get their drivers from AMD. So far I haven't been able to get anywhere on this. When I tried to install the driver for 8, I get an error message because it doesn't support 8.1.

yes I know they get their drivers from AMD for the chipset. What I am saying is why hasn't any other person made this complaint in 6 months? no Asrock users, No Gigabyte users, No biostar users. Just Asus and this Board. Not even the same issue but a lot of issues with 8 and 8.1 and this board.

I am betting the farm it is a bios issue. The Sleep States are handled in the bios not the chipset. Overclocking settings are handled in the Bios not the chipset. That is why none of this makes sense. It is all tied back to BIOS not a driver issue. Have you changed the sleep state settings in the bios? If you have it set incorrectly you can have issues.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Originally Posted by Cyberburnout

yes I know they get their drivers from AMD for the chipset. What I am saying is why hasn't any other person made this complaint in 6 months? no Asrock users, No Gigabyte users, No biostar users. Just Asus and this Board. Not even the same issue but a lot of issues with 8 and 8.1 and this board.

I am betting the farm it is a bios issue. The Sleep States are handled in the bios not the chipset. Overclocking settings are handled in the Bios not the chipset. That is why none of this makes sense. It is all tied back to BIOS not a driver issue. Have you changed the sleep state settings in the bios? If you have it set incorrectly you can have issues.

I'll have to check. I never noticed any sleep settings that seemed off. I did notice a setting though that can let me choose to hand the hardware over to the OS after it loads, which is the standard setting nowadays. I can set it back though to keep the bios handling the hardware even after the OS loads. That's why I believe what Asus was telling me in that it was a AMD driver issue. I'll have to check it out when I get some time.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Here are some of the replies I have received. Maybe one will spark a new direction for you.

I've had the windows based OC software clock it back to it last save clock no matter what is set in bios remove the program on just disarm it

Yeah I have never heard of a chipset driver causing issues with that ... Also a quick and easy suggestion ... Maybe his CMOS battery is shot. Might not have enough juice to retain settings during sleep.

using a program based over clock? If so it maybe a glitch with that.

So... don't let the computer sleep.

I had same issue with win7 until bios update and if he is using Al suite can do the same thing as it loads

Disable hybrid sleep in power options.

If all OC are in the Bios , maybe best to disable the AI Suite all together at boot.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Ok, so about this sleep issue. I updated my Bios to the latest 2002 version. Still the same issue. I did completely uninstall AI Suite II, no change. Finally, I looked for that bios setting I talked about an I figured out what it is. I didn't find it last night because I'm pretty sure I was looking in the wrong spot, but it's the UEFI vs. Legacy boot option. I can't remember exactly what the difference was but based on some sites, UEFI should be better, and I doubt that effects my sleep issue.

The other thing, the guy I talked to from the Asus overclock department was able to duplicate my issue on the same board, and he also told me it was an AMD driver issue. As long as I run stable, I don't care that much about going to sleep but I'm pretty sure at this point that this could be an AMD driver issue.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Originally Posted by joshjaks

Ok, so about this sleep issue. I updated my Bios to the latest 2002 version. Still the same issue. I did completely uninstall AI Suite II, no change. Finally, I looked for that bios setting I talked about an I figured out what it is. I didn't find it last night because I'm pretty sure I was looking in the wrong spot, but it's the UEFI vs. Legacy boot option. I can't remember exactly what the difference was but based on some sites, UEFI should be better, and I doubt that effects my sleep issue.

The other thing, the guy I talked to from the Asus overclock department was able to duplicate my issue on the same board, and he also told me it was an AMD driver issue. As long as I run stable, I don't care that much about going to sleep but I'm pretty sure at this point that this could be an AMD driver issue.

Duplicated only on that board. Have him try to duplicate it on a different 990fx board. because I have yet to find anyone else that has this issue that is running 990fx and Win 8.1. Only you and the Asus guy using the same board. If it was a driver issue everyone with a 990fx board would have the same problem. I was just running a 990fx Ud5 with Win 8.1 as 2nd OS. Never had this issue and my OC was just sitting at 4.8ghz. Memory at 2133mhz. My pc went to sleep all the time. never lost settings.

Again if it was an AMD driver issue it would have been widely known by now. Win 8.1 has been out long enough for others to have ran into this problem. No where else can I find this complaint.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Is there anything else in my hardware that could be causing this before I send the email out? I was wondering if by using the DOHCP (or whatever the pofile is) if that could cause issues. Should I manually set my ram settings instead of loading that profile? The profile just sets it all anyways so I wouldn't think it would cause the problem but not sure. Also, OCCT is what is showing my clock speed dropping. Windows will still say 4.5. Is OCCT dependable or could it be it's problem? I can't imagine though because I close the program before sleeping and reopen it after waking.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

Originally Posted by joshjaks

Is there anything else in my hardware that could be causing this before I send the email out? I was wondering if by using the DOHCP (or whatever the pofile is) if that could cause issues. Should I manually set my ram settings instead of loading that profile? The profile just sets it all anyways so I wouldn't think it would cause the problem but not sure. Also, OCCT is what is showing my clock speed dropping. Windows will still say 4.5. Is OCCT dependable or could it be it's problem? I can't imagine though because I close the program before sleeping and reopen it after waking.

"This problem is limited to software programs that adjust the base clock rate (BCLK) on-the-fly, without a reboot."

I kind of want to beat you up right now. lol Read the article and you will see there is nothing wrong with your system. Its the RTC issue that was already explained. I thought you timings and clocks were changing in the Bios. Not OCCT.

Re: Hope this isn't a bad sign for things to come

"This problem is limited to software programs that adjust the base clock rate (BCLK) on-the-fly, without a reboot."

I kind of want to beat you up right now. lol Read the article and you will see there is nothing wrong with your system. Its the RTC issue that was already explained. I thought you timings and clocks were changing in the Bios. Not OCCT.

Ok, makes sense. Funny I haven't stumbled on that. I did run into monitoring problems but yeah, that makes me feel better. What really gets me is how bad support sites are. You'd think they would have better answers but they weren't asking me the right questions! Sorry for panicking you but that makes me feel better too. Glad I can let my computer sleep again too!